Diagnostic techniques for atmospheric streamer discharges

Author

Creyghton, Y.L.M. ; van Veldhuizen, E.M. ; Rutgers, W.R.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Eindhoven Univ. of Technol., Netherlands

Volume

141

Issue

2

fYear

1994

fDate

3/1/1994 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

141

Lastpage

147

Abstract

Fast electrical and optical diagnostics are required for the analysis of atmospheric streamer discharges. This is illustrated for the case of positive streamer corona produced along wire electrodes by high voltage pulses with rise times of tens of nanoseconds. Electrical measurements with a high time resolution reveal the energy input in two discharge phases (primary and secondary streamer). The discharge structure is visualised using a gated image intensifier. The number of streamers per unit length of anode wire and the streamer diameter are determined. The streamer velocity is measured with a time-of-flight method using two optical fibres. Time-resolved spectroscopic measurements of the intensity ratio of N₂⁺ and N ₂ emission lines reveal that the average electron energy in the primary streamer phase is significantly higher than in the subsequent secondary streamer. The neutral gas temperature in the discharge is determined from the rotational structure of an N₂ emission line and is only slightly above the background gas temperature. Schlieren photographs visualise the heat dissipated in residual streamer channels

Keywords

CCD image sensors; corona; electric breakdown of gases; electric current measurement; fibre optic sensors; image intensifiers; nitrogen; particle beam diagnostics; photographic applications; plasma diagnostic techniques; schlieren systems; spectra of diatomic inorganic molecules; spectrochemical analysis; streak photography; time of flight spectra; time of flight spectroscopy; time resolved spectroscopy; velocity measurement; voltage measurement; N₂; N₂ emission line; Schlieren photographs; atmospheric streamer discharges; discharge phases; electrical diagnostics; electron energy; gated image intensifier; high voltage pulses; neutral gas temperature; optical diagnostics; optical fibres; positive streamer corona; primary streamer phase; residual streamer channels; rotational structure; secondary streamer; streamer diameter; streamer velocity; time-of-flight method; time-resolved spectroscopic measurements; visualisation; wire electrodes;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Science, Measurement and Technology, IEE Proceedings -

Publisher

iet

ISSN

1350-2344

Type

jour

DOI

10.1049/ip-smt:19941017

Filename

295422